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Jane French (1776–1842)

Jane Hewitt (1776-1842) was found guilty on 15th April 1803 at the Chester Quarter Sessions, Cheshire of stealing 13 silk handkerchiefs. Sentenced to 14 years transportation Hewitt arrived at Sydney aboard the William Pitt in April 1806. It seems that her young son Alexander, born in 1799, was either dead or was left behind in England. 

Hewitt joined her convict husband Alexander in New South Wales. They had a daughter Jane (b.1807) before separating. Hewitt (and her daughter) were living with John Cribb by 1814, whose cousin James was to later marry Hewitt’s daughter. Following John Cribb's death in September 1833, Hewitt married John French at Richmond on 31st October 1836.

Jane French died on 21st November 1842 and was buried two days later in the Cribb family vault as Jane French.

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Citation details

'French, Jane (1776–1842)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/french-jane-31891/text39348, accessed 28 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Starkey, Jane
  • Hewitt, Jane
  • Cribb, Jane
  • Hewet, Jane
  • Hewett, Jane
Birth

16 July, 1776
Chester, Cheshire, England

Death

21 November, 1842 (aged 66)
Richmond, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

unknown

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Passenger Ship
Occupation or Descriptor
Convict Record

Crime: unknown
Sentence: 14 years
Court: Cheshire
Trial Date: 15 April 1803
(1803)

Pre-transportation

Married: Yes
Children: Yes (1)

Post-transportation

Children: Yes (2)